Best Car Subwoofers 2019

If your goal is to create the best sounding car stereo system as possible, there is one component that is absolutely crucial—the subwoofer. It doesn’t matter whether you listen to rock, rap, jazz or even classic music, the addition of a good subwoofer will take the quality of your car’s audio landscape to the next level.

The problem is, how do you choose the best car subwoofers when there are literally hundreds to choose from? If a bone-shaking bass is what you are looking for, continue reading for a breakdown of our top recommendations of the best car subwoofers on the market right now.

Best Car Subwoofers 2019

The subwoofer is what is what most people go for when they want to change their sound in the car. Adding a subwoofer can be very simple and can a lot of depth to any music. And if you are intro trance, 80s genre or house, a subwoofer is the only thing you should be looking for if you don’t already have one.

In this guide, you will find your next subwoofer. You’ll learn what to look for when choosing a subwoofer, the difference between types of enclosures and much more. But most of all, we have been taking out the guessing and have selected some car subwoofers that you are sure to be happy with.

In the guide, you can find the best car subwoofers in the four most popular sizes, 8”, 10”, 12” and 15”. You can find subwoofers from top brands like Skar, Rockford, Orion and Alpine. We have been looking at things like pricing, how it sounds, ease of installation and potential trouble that other owners might have. After this, we’ve selected the top three car subwoofers for each size.

So, what to wait for? Find your next subwoofer now!

Best 8-Inch Car Subwoofers

For those of you who prefer a more delicate, complementary bass tone (as opposed to the overwhelming, window-shattering tone that a larger speaker would provide), an 8-inch subwoofer is probably the best choice for you.

An 8-inch subwoofer will sound fantastic with every genre of music and will have the capacity to keep up with faster music without losing its clarity. They are the perfect choice for those who want more bass, but not too much where it compromises the quality of the music.

Rockford P3SD2-8 Car Subwoofer

Not all cars are designed with deep storage spaces capable of mounting large subwoofer boxes.

The P3SD2-8 is a compact sub designed for just this kind of situation. It is part of the Punch series, which is one of the most popular ranges of car subwoofers to come out of the Rockford stable.

The shallow design is one of the main highlights of this 8-inch subwoofer. It is only 2-⅝ inches deep, which is quite unheard of for regular subwoofers. This design helps it fit into spaces which were hitherto considered unsuitable for subs. The driver has an anodized aluminum cone, surrounded by Santoprene instead of ordinary rubber. The use of aluminum makes this woofer more robust despite having to compromise on size.

The P3SD2-8 uses dual voice coils rated at 2 ohms each and has total max RMS of 150 watts, or 75 watts per coil. With peak power rated at 300 watts, this petite subwoofer may be sound underwhelming on paper. But the fact that you can this into spaces like doors where regular subs just won’t fit more than makes up for the power handicap.

The sensitivity is lower than average at 82dB, and frequency response is between 38-250Hz, which is not bad for a sub. And thanks to the dual 2 ohms setup, you can easily rig this sub up with other subwoofers in your setup. It also works well with a 4 ohms mono amp, rated up to 225 watts.

While this sub offers quite a good bass, it doesn’t really offer a performance bump over similar sized OEM subs. It is best used as an addition to cars that don’t have stock subs, and not as an upgrade on factory subs.

Skar Audio ZVX-8 Car Subwoofer

Being one of the biggest and most popular companies when it comes to the manufacturing of car subwoofers, it won’t come as a surprise to most people that Skar has made it’s place on this list.

The Skar Audio ZVX-8 Car Subwoofer was designed to be loud enough to shake up your entire car and everything around it. if you are an audiophile that likes bass, then this should be at the top of your consideration list.

Unrivaled when it comes to reliability and performance, this car subwoofer features a dual 4-Ohm Voice Coil configuration. Thanks to the 2.5-inch high-temperature voice coil alongside a 156-OZ triple stack ferrite motor, this subwoofer is capable of causing a mini earthquake in your car once the volume is turned up. Furthermore, the subwoofer boasts a decent maximum RMS power of 900 Watts, which while not the highest on our list, is not bad at all.

Unrivaled when it comes to reliability and performance, this car subwoofer features a dual 4-Ohm Voice Coil configuration. Thanks to the 2.5-inch high-temperature voice coil alongside a 156-OZ triple stack ferrite motor, this subwoofer is capable of causing a mini earthquake in your car once the volume is turned up. Furthermore, the subwoofer boasts a decent maximum RMS power of 900 Watts, which while not the highest on our list, is not bad at all.

What’s more, the subwoofer features a grade-one paper cone, which allows the subwoofer to produce a stunning bass, especially when joined with the high-roll foam stitched surround. With a remarkable 80.4 dB sensitivity rating, this subwoofer is an excellent addition if you are looking to improve the audio system of your car. Besides, the heavy-duty speaker push terminals combined with the ultra-low distortion design enable you to turn the speakers up to the maximum volume without any risk of damaging the woofers.

CT Sounds Meso 8 Car Subwoofer

In terms of power and performance to size ratio, there are fewer subwoofers on the market that can match the Meso D4 from CT Sounds.

Being an 8-inch speaker, the Meso D4 is on the smaller end of the subwoofer sizing spectrum, but the size of the sound that it creates is certainly not.

The CT Sounds D4 is a dual 4-ohm subwoofer with an incredible maximum power output of 1,600W (800W RMS), and when combined with the 2.5” voice coil that is built into its core, the power that this little beast of a speaker can produce is mind-boggling.

It’s not only the sound quality and the power to size ratio of the Meso D4 that makes it an incredibly worthy competitor for the best 8-inch car subwoofer trophy, but also its build quality. The Y35-graded ferrite magnets are triple stacked, and the outer frame is strong and sturdy, giving it the ability to produce high-powered audio frequencies without compromising or damaging the speaker.

Typically, we would follow our brief reviews with a quick mention of the downsides or “cons” of each product that we review, but honestly, we are really struggling to find anything to fault this powerhouse of a subwoofer. If you are looking for incredible bass without disrupting the overall sound quality of the music, the Meso D4 is probably the best choice for you.

Best 10-Inch Car Subwoofers

The 10-inch subwoofers are great all-rounders. They will provide you with a richer sound than the smaller 8-inches. They will not be as fast as the 8-inches but faster than the bigger ones. If you are anything like me and like to listen to all types of music, a 10-inch subwoofer is a must.

The 10-inch subwoofers are great for fast-paced music such as rap or club music. It will fill the car with a loud and rich bass sound which will raise your arm hair. That said, the 10-inches are great overall subwoofers and will generally take whatever you throw at it and do what it does best.

JL Audio 10WOV3-4 Car Subwoofer

JL once again comes through with an impressive offering, which is further proof of their long-standing brilliance.

Designed to include a combination of old and modern technologies, the JL Audio 10WOV3-4 Car Subwoofer is an epitome of a high-performing and highly-efficient subwoofer.

This great-sounding subwoofer comes with a 600-watt maximum power rating and a 300-watt RMS output. Although these may appear fairly low, the subwoofer is amazingly efficient with high sound output.

Featuring JL’s signature feature, the Dynamic Motor Analysis system, the car subwoofer is also capable of keeping its motors stable and linear regardless of its operating pressure. Expectedly, this leads to considerably fewer glitches and lower distortions. The polypropylene cone of this subwoofer has remarkably long excursion attributes that will get it through deep notes with no contortion. The power handling of its voice coil is upgraded by its elevated frame design that for the purpose of cooling, permits heavy airflow.

To put the icing on the cake, the sub comes with a special metallic silver frame finish. Extra features that will wow you include a 2-inch high-temperature voice coil, a single 4-Ohm impedance, and a 26-250Hz frequency response. While it lacks a grill and its power might be a bit disappointing, its overall pros outweigh the few shortcomings by a mile. Its unique elevated frame design and the other great features ensure your experience with the subwoofer will be worthwhile.

Alpine SW-10D4 Car Subwoofer

If you’re in search of a top of the range subwoofer that does everything possible to achieve remarkable bass whilst keeping up a small footprint, you might need to look at the Alpine SW-10D4 Car Subwoofer.

A lot of innovative technologies were incorporated in this subwoofer to ensure you get the best possible performance.

The subwoofer utilizes a unique design that is nearly one-inch shallower than previous models, therefore making it a great fit for cars with space limitation. Besides, the car subwoofer has an increased RMS power rating of 600 Watts.

Furthermore, the subwoofer has a frequency response of 28-200Hz, which along with the power rating is quite ordinary. Where this subwoofer shines brightly is in the unique technologies used in its design. Despite seeming quite compact, it produces the sound of bigger models. Great features like the reinforced parabolic cone structure with pulp/Kevlar, high-excursion voice coil configuration, and patented spider design enable this subwoofer to produce great bass.

The Alpine SW-10D4 Subwoofer is one of the best sounding subwoofers on this list. Having said that, all the great features come at a cost, and this model is one of the costliest 10-inch subwoofers out there. If you are in the market for the highest quality without minding the price, then you can consider this speaker.

Rockville W10K9D2 Car Subwoofer

Powerful, portable, and efficient are three words you don’t often see in the same sentence, until Rockville launched the Rockville W10K9D2 Car Subwoofer, of course. Despite being fairly compact and portable, this subwoofer from Rockville still manages to be powerful and efficient, much to the credit of the manufacturer.

While Rockville has always been one of the biggest manufacturers of high-quality car subwoofers, many people are still quite impressed with everything about this remarkable offering from them.

Thanks to the ultra-stiff cone used by the manufacturer, this subwoofer boasts a peak power handling of 3200 Watts, a program power handling of 1600 watts, and an RMS power handling of 800 watts, which makes it one of the most powerful subwoofers on this list. Not only that, but the thick foam surround used in the subwoofer also provides unbelievable sound quality with very minimal distortion. And with a sensitivity rating of 85 dB, you can expect this subwoofer to produce some deafening sound and great bass when turned up to the maximum volume.

In general, this subwoofer is a decent model with many pros but few cons. It’s suitable for people who are looking for raw power without compromising on sound quality. To put it simply, it is perfect for audiophiles who are looking for some deafening noise in their car.

Best 12-Inch Car Subwoofers

The 12-inch subwoofer is probably the most commonly purchased car subwoofer on the market right now, and for good reason. 12-inch subs will provide a deeper, richer and more resounding bass sound than the 8 and 10-inch subwoofers, and will resonate at a wider range of frequencies.

If you listen to a lot of rap, electronic or pop music, a 12-inch subwoofer will completely transform the way you listen to it. Unfortunately, the 12-inch subs won’t keep up with faster-paced music as well as the smaller subs, but it will provide a deeper, richer bass sound for those who are looking for that sort of thing.

Rockford Fosgate P3D4-12 Car Subwoofer

Being one of the best 12-inch subwoofers that can be obtained at an affordable price, it’s quite difficult to overlook the Rockford Fosgate P3D4-12 Car Subwoofer when the best car subwoofers are discussed.

Due to the fact that it boasts an automatic cooling system, its motor has a tendency of being cool at all times, and you can, therefore, listen to ultra-clear and smooth quality at all times.

The Rockford Fosgate P3D4-12 Car Subwoofer also features a double-layer dual voice coil that greatly improves the subwoofer’s power capacity, which makes sure that the amplifier receives more power, and therefore improves the standards of the sound.

Additionally, the Rockford Fosgate P3D4-12 Car Subwoofer comes with a stunning basket design and engineered with the special VAST technology that aids the provision of a larger cone area. Manufactured using premium-quality materials, this subwoofer is also certain to keep going for many years since it has been designed to be very durable. Besides, the heat reduction technology helps it to deliver great performance alongside its extra durability.

The Rockford Fosgate P3D4-12 Subwoofer also comes with a peak power rating of 1000 watts and decent frequency response of 28-250Hz, which are quite impressive when compared to other 12-inch subwoofers in the same price range. Adding to that, the speaker delivers high-quality sound and supreme bass.

The speaker is tailored to be compatible with all types of sound systems and all types of cars. When turned to the max volume, it displays its unbeatable power with crystal clear sound and peerless bass. Not only that, but it is also precise and tight at low volumes. You, however, need to set the system up properly as your failure to do so might cause it to be sounding bad.

American Bass XFL 1244 Car Subwoofer

Are you in search of a smaller subwoofer that punches more than it appears? Then you might need to consider the American Bass XFL1244 Subwoofer.

Its incredible sonic capabilities and super strong construction landed it a spot on the list of the best subwoofers in 2019.

Whether you are an audiophile or not, this subwoofer is perfect for everyone. Weighing about 35 pounds, this American Bass product is a heavy-duty subwoofer, hence, you can rest assured that it will deliver punching bass.

American Bass is renowned for its manufacturing of subwoofers that produce loud and low bass notes, and this model is no different. It is totally capable of handling an extreme degree of power, and when this power and its other features are combined, you have a really good subwoofer for bass production on your hands. Furthermore, the subwoofer sports an incredibly robust construction, thanks to the spider design it sports.

It features a peak power rating of 2000 watts and an RMS power rating of 1000 watts, so you can rest assured that it will deliver pure power. Besides, it uses a three-inch copper coil wound for increased heat dissipation. In general, this model is an excellent choice for a wide range of users, and since it produces very loud and clean sound, not many people will argue with us. It can be hard to install but take your time and you will be set in no time.

Skar Audio ZVX-12V2 D2 Car Subwoofer

To put it simply, it is designed for people who want to get the most bass for their money and aren’t willing to spare much money.

At a very affordable cost, it will produce the bass you so desire. While it may not be the loudest model on our list, it is sure to still be blasting in your car for many years to come, thanks to its supreme durability.

With a maximum power rating of 3000 watts and an RMS power of 1500 watts, you won’t have any complaint about lack of power. Besides, it has a high sensitivity rating of 84 dB, which is sure to be amplifying the sound the subwoofer is producing perfectly. For optimum heat dissipation, the Skar Audio 12-Inch Subwoofer comes with three-inch, high-temperature voice coils. And as far as the impedance is concerned, the subwoofer comes with a dual 2-Ohm voice coil configuration, which allows you to wire the system.

Considering its affordable price and all it offers at that price; this subwoofer feels almost like a steal. Apart from the specifications we have mentioned previously, other features you will find include a huge triple slug magnet, a poly-cotton spider, a high-grade paper cone, and a high roll foam surround. This subwoofer is sure to fulfill every desire of yours without draining your pocket.

Best 15-Inch Car Subwoofers

If you think clarity and richness of sound are overrated, and you want nothing more than a gut-wrenching, bone-shaking, ear-bleeding, window-smashing bass sound to completely transform your bass-heavy music into something a transformer would be proud to endorse, then look no further than a 15-inch subwoofer.

Although 15-inches aren’t really common, they are still popular among those who want the deepest, heaviest bass possible. If that sounds like something that tickles your fancy, then we would highly recommend choosing one of the following.

Kicker S15L2 Car Subwoofer

Despite being a little more expensive than most models on our list, it is with great joy and excitement we recommend the Kicker S15L7 Car Subwoofer.

Featuring a cone produced using titanium deposit, this subwoofer is extremely durable and can be used for a really long time.

The cone used is extremely tough and resistant and can vibrate easily without being fractured.

The subwoofer has been engineered with an additional patented cone area to allow it to produce more decibels. Kicker’s most advanced concepts and innovations such as Uniplate and Spiralead are used on this speaker, so that it delivers peak performance and high-quality sound.

Besides, the durability of the speaker is improved by its high-temperature coil wire, a sturdy pole piece, and a heat dissipating feature. It also has a 1-piece solo kon to give it full-back bracing for zero distortion and extreme toughness.

By and large, this is one of the first products that come to mind when the best 15-inch car subwoofers are discussed. While it is costlier than other subwoofers, it gives a lot of value for the money.

Skar Audio EVL-15 D2 Car Subwoofer

Just as we started thinking we had seen it all when it comes to bass production, Scar came through with the Skar Audio EVL-15 D2 Subwoofer, which with its incredible bass production, has got us retracing our steps.

This impressive subwoofer ​comes with a wide range of unique features that allow it to authoritatively handle low-frequency notes.

If you are looking for the right subwoofer to help you blow off the roof of your car with super loud sound, then you have just found it.

With a maximum power rating of 2500 watts, the Skar Audio EVL-15 D2 Subwoofer is one of the most powerful models on this list. And remarkably, despite packing so much power, this speaker does not heat up at all during an intense performance, which is rather impressive. During prolonged high-power performance, the Skar Audio EVL-15 D2 Subwoofer still manages to remain cool, due to the advanced cooling design and the high-temperature, four-layer aluminum voice coil.

If you have used Skar products before, you might be looking for Skar’s trademark spider design, high-quality stitched wires, competition-grade cone, and high-temperature coil when you set your eyes on this subwoofer. Of course, you will find all these features and more, all working in conjunction to produce a clear, deep and articulate bass.

A durable double-stack magnet guarantees the efficient movement of the voice coil for an accurate sound response. The huge, high-quality magnet is combined with other high-performance features to make sure that the subwoofer delivers the biggest bass and the loudest sound possible.

In addition, this subwoofer also has a sensitivity rating of 86.2 dB, which is decent enough and allows it to produce loud sound. The only shortcoming you’ll probably encounter is the difficult installation of this unit. Otherwise, this subwoofer is a reliable and high-performing product.

Orion HCCA152 Car Subwoofer

If you know a thing or two about automotive audio, then you really don’t need to be told that Orion is one of the most popular producers of high-quality subwoofers, and without a doubt, the Orion HCCA152 Car Subwoofer is one of the best car subwoofers on the market.

With a whooping peak power rating of 5,000 watts and an RMS power rating of 2,000 watts, this subwoofer is the most powerful unit on this list by far and it totally deserves every praise it gets.

In fact, no subwoofer of similar size is capable of rivaling the powerful, loud and high-quality sound of this beautiful unit. It boasts a dual flat Conex spider with loop stitched tinsel leads which ensures it remains cool during extended playing time.

Apart from that, it also has a voice coil cooling system which helps improve heat dissipation. And the rubber tri-radius symmetrical surround protects and supports the subwoofer, thereby helping it to last longer. It is vital for an expensive device such as this to be adequately protected so that it can outlive inexpensive ones.

This monster is guaranteed to get your car thumping in no time at all. Apart from the high-power rating, it also has a sensitivity rating of 87 dB, which is equally impressive. This incredible subwoofer has every feature you could want in a subwoofer, and it is perfect for modern cars and music enthusiasts who desire the best subwoofers in their cars.

Lest we forget, this sub is also backed by a one-year warranty, which offers buyers some peace of mind on their purchase. While its expensive price tag may be too much for some buyers, it offers a lot of value for investment, and you’ll soon find out enough if you can afford it.

Best Car Subwoofers 2019 Buying Guide

Chances are, if you have made it this far into this article, you are still undecided about which car subwoofer you should choose. For those who are new to the world of subwoofers and need a quick crash course in purchasing car subs, we decided to put together a little “Subwoofers 101” guide to help make your decision that little bit less stressful.

Benefits of Having a Subwoofer in Your Car

Regardless of whether you like to listen to the heaviest of metal, the smoothest of jazz or even the poppiest of pop (is that even a word?), the good quality bass is an absolute necessity if you want to enjoy the music how the producer or artist intended.

Car stereo speakers tend to be small and lack the power that is required to generate the low-end frequencies that make the music feel “complete” and real. Without good bass, music has a tendency to feel flat, tinny and dull. This is where subwoofers come in.

Subwoofers are simply speakers that are dedicated to producing lower frequencies of sound. When coupled with some good-quality speakers and a powerful amplifier, the music that you know and love can evolve into something magical. It’s hard to explain the feeling you get when you finally hear your favorite music through a set of good-quality speakers. It’s something you have to experience to truly understand.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Subwoofer

It’s no use looking at a bunch of subwoofers if you don’t even understand what makes each one unique. To improve your understanding of subwoofers, here is a breakdown of some of the most important factors that you should be considering when making your final decision.

Power

When looking at the power handling rating of a subwoofer, you only need to consider the RMS and not necessarily the maximum output of the particular woofer you are looking at. The RMS rating is what you can expect to run your subwoofers at consistently, without any issues. With that being said, if you want a powerful system that really explodes with bass, you will need to look into purchasing something with as high a power rating as possible.

Always check to make sure your amplifier can match up with the power handling of the subwoofer, else they may not work together.

Sensitivity

The higher the range of sensitivity that a subwoofer has, the less power output is required to achieve the same level of sound as it would with a subwoofer with lower sensitivity. If you have a powerful amplifier and you want to achieve maximum sound and power from your subwoofer, always look for the highest sensitivity.

Frequency Range

In simple terms, the frequency range determines how “low” a subwoofer can produce sound. The greater the range, the more suited the subwoofer will be at playing the lows and the highs of the bass sequence of the music you are listening to.

Voice Coils

The majority of newbies to the world of subwoofers will usually opt for a single voice coil sub, as they are the easiest to set up and still offer a fantastic quality of bass sound. For those with more experience and those who want to fine-tune their entire system, a dual voice coil (DVC) subwoofer will be more suited.

How much money are you ready to spend?

Giving Power to the Subwoofer

Unfortunately, installing and setting up a new subwoofer is not as simple as just throwing it in your trunk, clicking the “on” button, and hitting “play” on your stereo. Powering the subwoofer takes a little bit of mechanical know-how and a little bit of time, so if you are an absolute beginner and don’t know where to start, it can be a good idea to ask for guidance from someone who knows what they are doing.

Simply put, the power cable needs to be connected to the car battery in order to provide the power for the subwoofer to work. The power cable can reach the battery through a hole in the car’s firewall and can be kept neat and tidy by running underneath the car’s carpet.

The process of powering a subwoofer isn’t difficult, but it is incredibly important. If the connection is loose in any way, there is a chance that it could produce a short circuit, causing the subwoofer to fail and stop working.

Different Types of Enclosures

One of the most important aspects, and often the least appreciated aspect of good quality bass sound is the type of enclosure that you house your subwoofer in. It doesn’t matter how expensive or well-reviewed a subwoofer is; if it’s not fitted correctly into an appropriate enclosure, it will never be able to spread its metaphorical wings and produce the bass that it’s capable of.

Chances are, if you are inexperienced with subwoofers, car speakers or any other form of audio technology, you will need to rely on a “ready-made” subwoofer enclosure. If you are handy and know what you are doing, it can be a great idea to build your own to your own specifications, but if you are a newbie and don’t understand what is what, you are better off purchasing one that is ready to go.

Different types of enclosures will produce different types of bass. Knowing which one is the best choice for you is crucial if you are serious about making your car audio your own. Here are the characteristics of the most common types of enclosures.

Sealed

If you require an accurate and consistently tight bass sound from your subwoofer, you will need to go with a sealed enclosure. As the name suggests, a sealed enclosure is basically an air-tight box that houses your subwoofer. The bass that a sealed enclosure encourages is flatter, warmer and more precise. If you are looking for a loud, booming bass, a sealed enclosure is probably not the best choice for you. If you want warmth and richness of sound, then this is definitely your best bet.

Ported

A ported box is simply an enclosure that utilizes a small vent (or port) to produce louder, lower bass tones. In other words, you get louder, more in-your-face bass with a ported enclosure when compared to a sealed one. Ported boxes are perfect for hard-hitting music like heavy rock, metal, and fast rap. Ported enclosures are considerably larger than sealed enclosures, so keep that in mind when making your final decision.

Bandpass

Bandpass enclosures are very hit and miss. They don’t work well with some subwoofers, but for the ones they do work well with, they work VERY well. The reasoning behind bandpass enclosures is to squeeze every little bit of slam out of the subwoofer as possible. If you want bass that will shatter an entire row of cars windows when you pull up to the traffic lights, a bandpass enclosure is probably the right choice for you.

Conclusion

I hope this guide has been of much value to you. It takes time to write a guide like this and the more people that is happy about it, the happier I am. The big thing to know beforehand is how big your subwoofer should be. After that, it’s just a matter of how much money you want to spend. The smaller and cheaper subwoofers don’t have to be bad just because they are small and cheap, something to keep in mind.

If there any other question that you feel that we missed, do not hesitate to comment it down below and any of us will get back to you. It’s impossible to answer everything in a single guide, even if we sometimes try.

With that said, the only thing left now is to decide which subwoofer you want. If you decide to purchase a subwoofer on Amazon, it would be of huge help if you used one of our links. We would then get a small commission without it costing you anything extra. That will keep the website alive for many others after you.

Check Out the Other Guides

The subwoofer is not the only speaker in the car, there is a lot of other speakers that is responsible for other frequencies in music. To help you out with these speakers, we have also created a great guide, just like this one, where you can find the best spekaers for you. There is even a quiz that can help you choose.

What’s the point of a subwoofer if you can’t play anything on it, or worse, you can’t connect it to your head unit? In our guide about the best double din head units, you will find the best double din head units that you can get right now. Did you know you can make your car as smart as your phone? With the right head unit, you can.